Who were the Romans and how did this small tribe come to dominate Italy before establishing the largest empire the world has ever seen? Why were the Romans such brilliant innovators, responsible for inventions including newspapers, concrete, surgeon's tools and even an efficient postal system? What made their army invincible and their buildings so remarkable? And why, eventually, did the whole empire come crashing down?

David Long explains what life was actually like for ordinary Romans as well as their famous emperors, while also looking at the lingering influence of Roman civilisation throughout the world.